MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 council notes from September 27 meeting

• SAEWA decision up to landfill
• Funding for seed cleaning plant put on hold for clarifications
• Final inspection of North Burmis Road completed
• New MD building may open late November
• Fate of flood-damaged Cottonwood Campground Bridge discussed
• Rezoning to allow for a surveillance suite at Pincher Station salvage yard passes first reading
• Council waives 60 day notice period for Waldron Co-op Conservation Easement

SAEWA issue forwarded to landfill board

Southern Alberta Energy from Waste Association (SAEWA) sent a letter to MD council (dated January 30, 2013) asking for a 2013 membership fee of $1,263.20 representing 40 cents per capita of MD residents.  SAEWA Chair Kim Craig appeared before council as a delegation on August 27 to discuss SAEWA's initiative to unite multiple communities around the idea of constructing a jointly funded and managed waste to energy treatment plant, proposed location as yet undecided.  Craig's presentation is covered in more depth in our Summer 2013 council meetings story (click here).

SAEWA's letter was effectively also an invoice, but council ultimately decided not to regard as such.  Councillor Yagos, who also sits on the Crowsnest/Pincher Creek Landfill Association board, voiced his objection to the plan, saying "It makes more sense to cover recycling locally.  We're going to waste more energy hauling the stuff there than we're going to produce."  Yagos moved council "send a letter indicating we'll let the landfill decide".  Unanimous assent was granted to his motion.

Seed cleaning plant requests put on hold for clarifications

Council referred a request from the Seed Cleaning Co-op for funding associated with the purchase of a colour sorter for their facility, which has already been purchased.  That request was then referred to the Agricultural Service Board for comment.

From the meeting minutes:

At their July 3, 2013 meeting the Agricultural Service Board reviewed the request for funding and passed motion 13/061;
Moved that the Seed Cleaning Coop request for funding be sent to Council, so that;
• If Councils intent was to consider funding, that a reasonable portion of this request be funded, and that
• The MD should work with the Seed Cleaning Plant to formulate a position on a relationship between the MD and the Seed Cleaning Plant.

Council discussed what their policy was in regards to the MD's "ongoing relationship" with the Seed Cleaning Co-op.  "I think it's important to support them," said councillor Rod Cyr.  "They have the best weed control program we've got in the MD as far as I'm concerned."  Councillor Yagos indicated he didn't have a problem with spending "this small amount".  Several members of council expressed concern about the Seed Cleaning Co-op's book keeping situation.  Councillor Helen Cyr suggested tabling the expenditure portion of the Seed Cleaning Co-op's request until the next council meeting, and Councillor Garry Marchuk made a motion to that effect, which passed unanimously, bringing council to the second portion of the Seed Cleaning Co-op's request.

After a reported 24 years of handling the book keeping for the Seed Cleaning Co-op, council has decided not to continue doing so, resulting in a request that the MD help with the wages and related expenses of hiring a book keeper.  Councillor Rod Cyr expressed that the Co-operatives Act "indicates we should maintain an arms-length relationship with profit making entities".   CAO Wendy Kay said it might be appropriate for the Seed Cleaning Co-op to have a council member assist them in and advisory capacity, "but probably not as a board member".   She suggested that the Seed Cleaning Co-op's bylaws might need updating.

A final decision on the issues was tabled until administration can arrange for a meeting with the Seed Cleaning Co-op to clarify what the MD's relationship is with that organization.

Final inspection of North Burmis Road completed

Director of Operations Leo Reedyk reported to council that the final inspection has been completed on the work done on North Burmis Road.   Councillor Rod Cyr asked him why the MD was spraying sweet clover growing along roadsides.  "We're not targeting it specifically," replied Reedyk, adding that sometimes deer hide in it, creating a hazard.

New MD building may open late November

Director of Operations Leo Reedyk told council that the construction of the new MD building is "a little behind schedule", expressing his confidence that the work was proceeding at a reasonable pace, despite a period of poor weather over the summer.  He said the the third week of November was projected as the earliest possession date.

Fate of flood-damaged Cottonwood Campground Bridge discussed

Damaged Cottonwood Campground Bridge
C. Davis file photo

During his report to council Director of Operations Leo Reedyk suggested council consider not rebuilding the Cottonwood Campground Bridge, which sustained significant damage during last June's flooding incident.  "It's going to happen again (damage to the bridge)," Reedyk said.  Reeve Bjorn Berg  suggested the bridge was probably supposed to be removed after the dam was constructed.  He also mentioned the limited traffic flow over the bridge, which he said  is mainly used by tourists.  Berg said the Summerview Bridge was probably a more important priority.  "The Cottonwood and Summerview bridges are within three kilometres of each other".

"I think within 20 years we're going to have to get rid of one of those bridges,"  Berg continued, after discussing the viability of replacing the one-lane Summerview bridge with the two-lane Cottonwood bridge.

Leo Reedyk seemed to think that was a possibility, if another span was dadded to allow for the wider river radius at the Summerview bridge location

"Cottonwood is a big cost to the MD," said Councillor Helen Cur.  "We have to look at this closely before we throw a lot of money at it."   Councillor Yagos suggested asking the people.  "It's worth doing the ask," said Berg.  Councillor Helen  Cyr agreed, saying it would be a good example of involving citizens in the decision making process.

Council unanimously decided to approach the provincial government to see if they would consider funding an upgrade to the Summerview bridge instead of repairing the Cottonwood bridge.

Rezoning to allow for a surveillance suite at Pincher Station salvage yard passes first reading

An auto recycling facility located in Pincher Station has asked council for permission to place a single-wide manufactured home onsite in order to have better surveillance of their business.  The request was originally blocked because no zoning was in place, so it came before council to consider rezoning.  The rezoning request passed first reading and will now be the subject of a public hearing on November 5.

Council to pay for All-Candidates Forum

Council reversed an earlier decision and agreed to pay for the costs associated with the MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 All-Candidates Forum to be hosted by SASCI on Thursday October 10.

Council waives 60 day notice period for Waldron Co-op Conservation Easement

Council agreed to waive a 60-day notice period to allow Nature Conservancy Canada to register a Conservation Easement for the Waldron Grazing Co-operative.  See also:
Agreement sets the stage for conservation of Waldron Ranch
Related:
MD of Pincher Creek council notes, Summer 2013 meetings
All Candidates Forums to be held in Pincher Creek
2013 Election candidates and acclamations